Packers' stock sale ends with 268,000 shares sold

The Packers' fundraising stock sale ended Wednesday, and the returns appear to be quite lucrative.

The team announced Thursday that it had sold more than 268,000 shares -- roughly half of them in Wisconsin -- meaning it will gross in the neighborhood of $70 million.

The fifth stock sale in team history brings the total number of shareholders to more than 360,000.

"The response to the offering by our fans was overwhelming," said team president and CEO Mark Murphy in a statement. "We enthusiastically welcome our new shareholders from across the country and Canada, as well. We thank them for their support of the stadium expansion that will help us achieve success in the long term, and provide an enhanced gameday experience that will continue to thrill our guests."

The team made 280,000 shares available in December. Though the stock doesn't appreciate in value, its sale raises money for the publicly owned franchise and will be reinvested into the latest expansion of Lambeau Field, a $143 million project which will include 6,700 additional seats and new videoboards.

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About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate